The underground city. A cavern of darkness. A land of thugs.

This was my humble beginning.

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And why did I think it would be a good idea to look for mom?

I gulped to myself, knowing that curiosity definitely got the best of me this time. Hats, oversized sweaters, gloves, boots - they were abundant for me to depict exactly how this place was like. The very palms of my hands are sweating profusely, yet my mind is screaming that it's not enough layers. Undeniably, it wasn't heat that caused the sweat after all; it was the genuine discomfort that churned in my stomach, and now, apparently reaching out to my palms too. I haven't felt like this in a while - not while I've been stuck at home with the southerners of Wall Maria.

Naturally, my hands crept up to each side of my arms, rubbing it up and down as I gained more stares from the squatting group in the corner. Across the street, I spot a few more pallid men - probably in this state due to the lack of Vitamin D. They were dawdling around, licking their ever so chapped lips. I began to doubt if my disguise was even working at the slightest.

"Gross." I muttered under my breath.

"What did you say?" a croaking voice appeared behind me, the disgusting warmth of it causing my hairs to stand.

There wasn't time to ponder over how the man could hear me, in fact, I refused to know. I quickened my pace, now striding along the road as my flair scarf accompanied me; it was the same scarf mom saved up to get me for my birthday. She really didn't have to waste her money like that, albeit I'm grateful for the protection it's giving me currently.

Splash.

"Fuck."

Could this place literally get any worse? Why are there puddles of murky substances everywhere though it's sheltered from rain? Look, it even stained the edges of my trousers! I swear if dad gave me the wrong address just to mess with me, I won't hesitate to do shit to him. I'll threaten him, just like I did to get this address in the first place.

I glanced onto the signboard in front of the busy shop ahead of me. There were hurdles of men tied around with young women, cackling through their filthy mouths. Swirls of alcoholic scents hit against the air, which almost had me gagging as I inhaled it in. After stealing a couple more glances, I finally identified that it had the same address which he scribbled down for me.

No, it can't be... she works at a brothel?

Realisation curses me as my hands curled into clenched fists. The rest of my body noticeably stiffens up, and my face drops pale. As obvious as it is, I was fuming - fuming with trauma and mere distress. This was the place dad was making her work at? And the punk has the audacity to demand more dirty money from her? Well he certainly never fails to disappoint.

I took one deep breath, and headed straight at it.

"The fuck do you think you're doing miss?"

"Stop! Let me go!" I scrambled through his arms.

"It's too dangerous."

I turned to look at who was holding me back. A man - his stature no taller than 5 foot 3, and no older than 30 either. To me he looked just about in his youthful twenties. He dressed himself in rich fashion, accentuating his white cravat and muscular figure, meanwhile his hair is styled with a sharp undercut. The man held an expressionless gaze, almost as if he's lost all emotion - apart from exasperation I assumed. However, his grey orbs were somehow calming, luring me into his mysterious aura.

That was until his brows furrowed even more and snapped me back into reality.

"Yeah, and you expect me to listen to you when you've got that." I replied, managing to redeem myself.

His eyes drooped down in a lazy manner to see what I was hinting at: his ODM gear.

"Why do you have-"

"Tch, I'm not interested in women. At least not in the way these Underground brats are." he cuts me off before I could interrogate any further. Despite beating around the bush, I decided to not push my luck and kept my mouth shut.

Abruptly, he grabbed my hand and led me to the back alleyway.

I found myself not knowing why I was following him. I concluded that its just another gamble of mine.

"Who are you looking for?" he asked. His focus still pried on the beggars and suspicious men leaned back against the walls that borders both sides of us.

For a second, I scruple to answer him since he didn't answer my question after all. I did it anyway, for he was the only one I could somewhat trust at the moment.

"Oh, my mom." I spoke at full volume, naive to the situation.

"Sheesh!" his voice squeaked out, leading me into another alleyway and immediately cupping my mouth, "Have you forgotten your disguise or what? You know the reason why I saw through you was because your ass spoke?"

"Now that you've caught the attention of those thugs... this is gonna be much harder than I expected."

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Entirely, the weight of my body was flopped onto the roof. He too, crouched over, panting out of distress.

"You should have- should have given me a warning... that you were going to use your gear." I struggled to say out.

"How else was I going to escape those brats? Anyways, it's your fault for dragging us into this. Heading head first into everything, you brat."

For a moment there was a silence, filled with nothing but the sounds of our puffs, collecting more air each time. The man suddenly stood before me, only half-recovered. Judging by his softened expression, it seemed like he was curious to know something.

"Oi, what's your name brat?"

Ah, I was right.

"Surely you could use some lessons on exquisite vocabulary." I teased.

"Stop avoiding the bloody question."

"How can I trust you with my name?"

"Come on, you've already come this far with me. A name wouldn't matter right?"

I contemplated his words.

"Fine. I'll keep calling you brat then," he provoked, "That is if I ever meet you again."

"Mayuka Rogue." I spat out.

"Hm?"

"That's my name. What about yours?"

He chuckled whilst shaking his head, then seemingly mouthing the words "so naive" I tilt my head with utter confusion as to what's so funny. He proceeds to reply with, "I'm Levi. Levi Ackerman."

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BYE I REVEALED HIS EXACT HEIGHT LOL
SHAWTY GONNA HUNT ME DOWN NOW CYA 💀

also...

yea i'll run before both u and levi murder me